Rules and Laws

The Graduated Drivers License (GDL)

On July 1, 1998 the State of California enacted laws that effects all
drivers under the age of 18. This was the beginning of stricter controls
for younger drivers that have lead to the current laws establishing a
graduated driver's license (GDL).

The most recent changes became effective on January 1, 2006.
The law now requires teen drivers to have their license for one year
before being allowed to drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., or before
being allowed to transport young passengers without an adult in the car.

An Auto Club analysis of teen crash statistics shows that the changes
have further reduced teen crash deaths and injuries. The intent of these
laws are to give teens more experience behind the wheel before they
tackle complex driving situations. Also, vehicle crashes are the
primary cause of death for teens and crash statistics show that teen
drivers are among the most dangerous on the road.

Besides California, 48 other states and the District of Columbia have
approved some form of teen driving restriction. The Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety has ranked California's GDL law as the most
comprehensive in the nation.

What steps does a teen follow to get a license?

Teens and New Drivers have many options to get a California Drivers
License. The GDL allows for three different levels to go from a
permit to full California Drivers License.

Learner's Permit (15 years old - see our section for Freshman).

Minor's Provisional License (16 years old - see our section for
Sohphmores)

The law requires teen drivers to have their license for one year
before being allowed to drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., or before
being allowed to transport young passengers without an adult in the car.

Teen drivers with less than one year of experience may still carry
passengers under age 20 as long as there is an adult 25 or older in the
vehicle. The 11 p.m. driving curfew also contains exceptions
for work and school attendance.

All the provisions of the GDL law are enforced as secondary
violations - that is, a law enforcement officer must first pull over a
driver for another possible infraction before the driver will be cited
for a violation of the GDL law.